Sun Tzu On The Art Of Way | Way Of Ninja Edition

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wayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjaway Sun Tzu on The Art of Warofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofni The Oldest Military Treatise in The World First Published in 1910njawayofninjawayofninjawayofninja Translated from Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes by Lionel Giles, M.A.wayofninjawayofninjawayofninjaway http://wayofninja.comofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofninjawayofni 1|Page

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2WayOfNinja.com PrefaceSun Tzu on The Art of War originated from China. It is debatedby Scholars as to whether Sun Tzu was a person in history whowrote the manual, or the manual was a compilation ofstrategies by several military strategists in China’s history.Even then, this manual is said to have changed warfare inJapan. The Samurai, however, disagreed with the tactics ofSun Tzu. The Bushido code of honour required Samurai tofight one on one fairly. The strongest and most skilled incombat would win.Yet, the wisdom of Sun Tzu’s way of warfare could not beIgnored. Therefore, it fell on the ninja to adopt the tactics ofDeception.It is said that Sun Tzu on The Art of War inspired the deceptivetactics and strategies used by the ninja. The particular chapteron The Use of Spies is testament to this.Note: The text of the ebook has been purposely narrowed toThe left so that it is easily readable on mobile phones. Also,The text that follows this preface is the exact copy of LionelGiles translation of Sun Tzu on The Art of War. No word hasbeen altered by me.Below is the content page to the main text of Sun Tzu’smanual. However, to get a better understanding, you shouldread the information that precedes the main text.–Logen L., Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of NinjaWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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4 SUN TZU ON THE ART OF WAR THE OLDEST MILITARY TREATISE IN THE WORLD Translated from the Chinese with Introduction and Critical Notes BY LIONEL GILES, M.A.Assistant in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and MSS. in the British Museum First Published in 1910----------------------------------------------------------------- To my brother Captain Valentine Giles, R.G. in the hope that a work 2400 years old may yet contain lessons worth consideration by the soldier of today this translation is affectionately dedicated.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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5IntroductionSun Wu and his Book Ssu-ma Ch`ien gives the following biography of Sun Tzu: [1]-- Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His ART OF WAR brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, [2] King of Wu. Ho Lu said to him: "I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?" Sun Tzu replied: "You may." Ho Lu asked: "May the test be applied to women?" The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided them into two companies, and placed one of the Kings favorite concubines at the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their hands, and addressed them thus: "I presume you know the difference between front and back, right hand and left hand?" The girls replied: Yes. Sun Tzu went on: "When I say "Eyes front," you must look straight ahead. When I say "Left turn," you must face towards your left hand. When I say "Right turn," you must face towards your right hand. When I say "About turn," you must face right round towards your back." Again the girls assented. The words of command having been thus explained, he set up the halberds and battle-axes in order to begin the drill. Then, to the sound of drums, he gave the order "Right turn." But the girls only burst out laughing. Sun Tzu said: "If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame." So he started drilling them again, and this time gave the order "Left turn," whereupon the girls once more burst into fits of laughter. Sun Tzu: "If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers." So saying, he ordered the leaders of the two companies to be beheaded. Now the king of Wu was watching the scene from the top of a raised pavilion; and when he saw that his favorite concubines were about to be executed, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly sent down the following message: "We are now quite satisfied as to our generals ability to handle troops. If We are bereft of these two concubines, our meat and drink will lose their savor. It is our wish that they shall not be beheaded." Sun Tzu replied: "Having once received His MajestysWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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6 commission to be the general of his forces, there are certain commands of His Majesty which, acting in that capacity, I am unable to accept." Accordingly, he had the two leaders beheaded, and straightway installed the pair next in order as leaders in their place. When this had been done, the drum was sounded for the drill once more; and the girls went through all the evolutions, turning to the right or to the left, marching ahead or wheeling back, kneeling or standing, with perfect accuracy and precision, not venturing to utter a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying: "Your soldiers, Sire, are now properly drilled and disciplined, and ready for your majestys inspection. They can be put to any use that their sovereign may desire; bid them go through fire and water, and they will not disobey." But the King replied: "Let our general cease drilling and return to camp. As for us, We have no wish to come down and inspect the troops." Thereupon Sun Tzu said: "The King is only fond of words, and cannot translate them into deeds." After that, Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how to handle an army, and finally appointed him general. In the west, he defeated the Ch`u State and forced his way into Ying, the capital; to the north he put fear into the States of Ch`i and Chin, and spread his fame abroad amongst the feudal princes. And Sun Tzu shared in the might of the King. About Sun Tzu himself this is all that Ssu-ma Ch`ien has totell us in this chapter. But he proceeds to give a biography ofhis descendant, Sun Pin, born about a hundred years after hisfamous ancestors death, and also the outstanding military geniusof his time. The historian speaks of him too as Sun Tzu, and inhis preface we read: "Sun Tzu had his feet cut off and yetcontinued to discuss the art of war." [3] It seems likely, then,that "Pin" was a nickname bestowed on him after his mutilation,unless the story was invented in order to account for the name.The crowning incident of his career, the crushing defeat of histreacherous rival P`ang Chuan, will be found briefly related inChapter V. ss. 19, note. To return to the elder Sun Tzu. He is mentioned in twoother passages of the SHIH CHI: -- In the third year of his reign [512 B.C.] Ho Lu, king of Wu, took the field with Tzu-hsu [i.e. Wu Yuan] and Po P`ei, and attacked Ch`u. He captured the town of Shu and slew the two princes sons who had formerly been generals of Wu. He was then meditating a descent on Ying [the capital]; but the general Sun Wu said: "The army is exhausted. It is not yet possible. We must wait".... [After further successful fighting,] "in the ninth year [506 B.C.], King Ho Lu addressed Wu Tzu-hsu and Sun Wu, saying: "Formerly, you declared that it was not yet possible for us to enter Ying. Is the time ripe now?" The two men replied: "Ch`us general Tzu-ch`ang, [4] is grasping and covetous, and the princes ofWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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7 T`ang and Ts`ai both have a grudge against him. If Your Majesty has resolved to make a grand attack, you must win over T`ang and Ts`ai, and then you may succeed." Ho Lu followed this advice, [beat Ch`u in five pitched battles and marched into Ying.] [5] This is the latest date at which anything is recorded of SunWu. He does not appear to have survived his patron, who diedfrom the effects of a wound in 496. In another chapter there occurs this passage: [6] From this time onward, a number of famous soldiers arose, one after the other: Kao-fan, [7] who was employed by the Chin State; Wang-tzu, [8] in the service of Ch`i; and Sun Wu, in the service of Wu. These men developed and threw light upon the principles of war. It is obvious enough that Ssu-ma Ch`ien at least had nodoubt about the reality of Sun Wu as an historical personage; andwith one exception, to be noticed presently, he is by far themost important authority on the period in question. It will notbe necessary, therefore, to say much of such a work as the WUYUEH CH`UN CH`IU, which is supposed to have been written by ChaoYeh of the 1st century A.D. The attribution is somewhatdoubtful; but even if it were otherwise, his account would be oflittle value, based as it is on the SHIH CHI and expanded withromantic details. The story of Sun Tzu will be found, for whatit is worth, in chapter 2. The only new points in it worthnoting are: (1) Sun Tzu was first recommended to Ho Lu by WuTzu-hsu. (2) He is called a native of Wu. (3) He had previouslylived a retired life, and his contemporaries were unaware of hisability. The following passage occurs in the Huai-nan Tzu: "Whensovereign and ministers show perversity of mind, it is impossibleeven for a Sun Tzu to encounter the foe." Assuming that thiswork is genuine (and hitherto no doubt has been cast upon it), wehave here the earliest direct reference for Sun Tzu, for Huai-nanTzu died in 122 B.C., many years before the SHIH CHI was given tothe world. Liu Hsiang (80-9 B.C.) says: "The reason why Sun Tzu at thehead of 30,000 men beat Ch`u with 200,000 is that the latter wereundisciplined." Teng Ming-shih informs us that the surname "Sun" wasbestowed on Sun Wus grandfather by Duke Ching of Ch`i [547-490B.C.]. Sun Wus father Sun P`ing, rose to be a Minister of Statein Ch`i, and Sun Wu himself, whose style was Ch`ang-ch`ing, fledto Wu on account of the rebellion which was being fomented by thekindred of T`ien Pao. He had three sons, of whom the second,named Ming, was the father of Sun Pin. According to this accountthen, Pin was the grandson of Wu, which, considering that SunPins victory over Wei was gained in 341 B.C., may be dismissedas chronological impossible. Whence these data were obtained byTeng Ming-shih I do not know, but of course no reliance whatevercan be placed in them.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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8 An interesting document which has survived from the close ofthe Han period is the short preface written by the Great Ts`aoTs`ao, or Wei Wu Ti, for his edition of Sun Tzu. I shall give itin full: -- I have heard that the ancients used bows and arrows to their advantage. [10] The SHU CHU mentions "the army" among the "eight objects of government." The I CHING says: "army indicates firmness and justice; the experienced leader will have good fortune." The SHIH CHING says: "The King rose majestic in his wrath, and he marshaled his troops." The Yellow Emperor, T`ang the Completer and Wu Wang all used spears and battle-axes in order to succor their generation. The SSU-MA FA says: "If one man slay another of set purpose, he himself may rightfully be slain." He who relies solely on warlike measures shall be exterminated; he who relies solely on peaceful measures shall perish. Instances of this are Fu Ch`ai [11] on the one hand and Yen Wang on the other. [12] In military matters, the Sages rule is normally to keep the peace, and to move his forces only when occasion requires. He will not use armed force unless driven to it by necessity. Many books have I read on the subject of war and fighting; but the work composed by Sun Wu is the profoundest of them all. [Sun Tzu was a native of the Ch`i state, his personal name was Wu. He wrote the ART OF WAR in 13 chapters for Ho Lu, King of Wu. Its principles were tested on women, and he was subsequently made a general. He led an army westwards, crushed the Ch`u state and entered Ying the capital. In the north, he kept Ch`i and Chin in awe. A hundred years and more after his time, Sun Pin lived. He was a descendant of Wu.] [13] In his treatment of deliberation and planning, the importance of rapidity in taking the field, [14] clearness of conception, and depth of design, Sun Tzu stands beyond the reach of carping criticism. My contemporaries, however, have failed to grasp the full meaning of his instructions, and while putting into practice the smaller details in which his work abounds, they have overlooked its essential purport. That is the motive which has led me to outline a rough explanation of the whole. One thing to be noticed in the above is the explicitstatement that the 13 chapters were specially composed for KingHo Lu. This is supported by the internal evidence of I. ss. 15,in which it seems clear that some ruler is addressed. In the bibliographic section of the HAN SHU, there is anentry which has given rise to much discussion: "The works of SunTzu of Wu in 82 P`IEN (or chapters), with diagrams in 9 CHUAN."It is evident that this cannot be merely the 13 chapters known toSsu-ma Ch`ien, or those we possess today. Chang Shou-chiehrefers to an edition of Sun Tzus ART OF WAR of which the "13chapters" formed the first CHUAN, adding that there were twoother CHUAN besides. This has brought forth a theory, that thebulk of these 82 chapters consisted of other writings of Sun TzuWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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9-- we should call them apocryphal -- similar to the WEN TA, ofwhich a specimen dealing with the Nine Situations [15] ispreserved in the T`UNG TIEN, and another in Ho Shins commentary.It is suggested that before his interview with Ho Lu, Sun Tzu hadonly written the 13 chapters, but afterwards composed a sort ofexegesis in the form of question and answer between himself andthe King. Pi I-hsun, the author of the SUN TZU HSU LU, backsthis up with a quotation from the WU YUEH CH`UN CH`IU: "The Kingof Wu summoned Sun Tzu, and asked him questions about the art ofwar. Each time he set forth a chapter of his work, the Kingcould not find words enough to praise him." As he points out, ifthe whole work was expounded on the same scale as in the above-mentioned fragments, the total number of chapters could not failto be considerable. Then the numerous other treatises attributedto Sun Tzu might be included. The fact that the HAN CHIHmentions no work of Sun Tzu except the 82 P`IEN, whereas the Suiand T`ang bibliographies give the titles of others in addition tothe "13 chapters," is good proof, Pi I-hsun thinks, that all ofthese were contained in the 82 P`IEN. Without pinning our faithto the accuracy of details supplied by the WU YUEH CH`UN CH`IU,or admitting the genuineness of any of the treatises cited by PiI-hsun, we may see in this theory a probable solution of themystery. Between Ssu-ma Ch`ien and Pan Ku there was plenty oftime for a luxuriant crop of forgeries to have grown up under themagic name of Sun Tzu, and the 82 P`IEN may very well represent acollected edition of these lumped together with the originalwork. It is also possible, though less likely, that some of themexisted in the time of the earlier historian and were purposelyignored by him. [16] Tu Mus conjecture seems to be based on a passage whichstates: "Wei Wu Ti strung together Sun Wus Art of War," whichin turn may have resulted from a misunderstanding of the finalwords of Ts`ao Kings preface. This, as Sun Hsing-yen pointsout, is only a modest way of saying that he made an explanatoryparaphrase, or in other words, wrote a commentary on it. On thewhole, this theory has met with very little acceptance. Thus,the SSU K`U CH`UAN SHU says: "The mention of the 13 chapters inthe SHIH CHI shows that they were in existence before the HANCHIH, and that latter accretions are not to be considered part ofthe original work. Tu Mus assertion can certainly not be takenas proof." There is every reason to suppose, then, that the 13 chaptersexisted in the time of Ssu-ma Ch`ien practically as we have themnow. That the work was then well known he tells us in so manywords. "Sun Tzus 13 Chapters and Wu Ch`is Art of War are thetwo books that people commonly refer to on the subject ofmilitary matters. Both of them are widely distributed, so I willnot discuss them here." But as we go further back, seriousdifficulties begin to arise. The salient fact which has to befaced is that the TSO CHUAN, the greatest contemporary record,makes no mention whatsoever of Sun Wu, either as a general or asa writer. It is natural, in view of this awkward circumstance,that many scholars should not only cast doubt on the story of SunWu as given in the SHIH CHI, but even show themselves franklyWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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10skeptical as to the existence of the man at all. The mostpowerful presentment of this side of the case is to be found inthe following disposition by Yeh Shui-hsin: [17] -- It is stated in Ssu-ma Ch`iens history that Sun Wu was a native of the Ch`i State, and employed by Wu; and that in the reign of Ho Lu he crushed Ch`u, entered Ying, and was a great general. But in Tsos Commentary no Sun Wu appears at all. It is true that Tsos Commentary need not contain absolutely everything that other histories contain. But Tso has not omitted to mention vulgar plebeians and hireling ruffians such as Ying K`ao-shu, [18] Ts`ao Kuei, [19], Chu Chih-wu and Chuan She-chu [20]. In the case of Sun Wu, whose fame and achievements were so brilliant, the omission is much more glaring. Again, details are given, in their due order, about his contemporaries Wu Yuan and the Minister P`ei. [21] Is it credible that Sun Wu alone should have been passed over? In point of literary style, Sun Tzus work belongs to the same school as KUAN TZU, [22] LIU T`AO, [23] and the YUEH YU [24] and may have been the production of some private scholar living towards the end of the "Spring and Autumn" or the beginning of the "Warring States" period. [25] The story that his precepts were actually applied by the Wu State, is merely the outcome of big talk on the part of his followers. From the flourishing period of the Chou dynasty [26] down to the time of the "Spring and Autumn," all military commanders were statesmen as well, and the class of professional generals, for conducting external campaigns, did not then exist. It was not until the period of the "Six States" [27] that this custom changed. Now although Wu was an uncivilized State, it is conceivable that Tso should have left unrecorded the fact that Sun Wu was a great general and yet held no civil office? What we are told, therefore, about Jang-chu [28] and Sun Wu, is not authentic matter, but the reckless fabrication of theorizing pundits. The story of Ho Lus experiment on the women, in particular, is utterly preposterous and incredible. Yeh Shui-hsin represents Ssu-ma Ch`ien as having said thatSun Wu crushed Ch`u and entered Ying. This is not quite correct.No doubt the impression left on the readers mind is that he atleast shared in these exploits. The fact may or may not besignificant; but it is nowhere explicitly stated in the SHIH CHIeither that Sun Tzu was general on the occasion of the taking ofYing, or that he even went there at all. Moreover, as we knowthat Wu Yuan and Po P`ei both took part in the expedition, andalso that its success was largely due to the dash and enterpriseof Fu Kai, Ho Lus younger brother, it is not easy to see how yetanother general could have played a very prominent part in thesame campaign. Ch`en Chen-sun of the Sung dynasty has the note: -- Military writers look upon Sun Wu as the father of theirWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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11 art. But the fact that he does not appear in the TSO CHUAN, although he is said to have served under Ho Lu King of Wu, makes it uncertain what period he really belonged to.He also says: -- The works of Sun Wu and Wu Ch`i may be of genuine antiquity. It is noticeable that both Yeh Shui-hsin and Ch`en Chen-sun,while rejecting the personality of Sun Wu as he figures in Ssu-maCh`iens history, are inclined to accept the date traditionallyassigned to the work which passes under his name. The author ofthe HSU LU fails to appreciate this distinction, and consequentlyhis bitter attack on Ch`en Chen-sun really misses its mark. Hemakes one of two points, however, which certainly tell in favorof the high antiquity of our "13 chapters." "Sun Tzu," he says,"must have lived in the age of Ching Wang [519-476], because heis frequently plagiarized in subsequent works of the Chou, Ch`inand Han dynasties." The two most shameless offenders in thisrespect are Wu Ch`i and Huai-nan Tzu, both of them importanthistorical personages in their day. The former lived only acentury after the alleged date of Sun Tzu, and his death is knownto have taken place in 381 B.C. It was to him, according to LiuHsiang, that Tseng Shen delivered the TSO CHUAN, which had beenentrusted to him by its author. [29] Now the fact thatquotations from the ART OF WAR, acknowledged or otherwise, are tobe found in so many authors of different epochs, establishes avery strong anterior to them all, -- in other words, that SunTzus treatise was already in existence towards the end of the5th century B.C. Further proof of Sun Tzus antiquity isfurnished by the archaic or wholly obsolete meanings attaching toa number of the words he uses. A list of these, which mightperhaps be extended, is given in the HSU LU; and though some ofthe interpretations are doubtful, the main argument is hardlyaffected thereby. Again, it must not be forgotten that Yeh Shui-hsin, a scholar and critic of the first rank, deliberatelypronounces the style of the 13 chapters to belong to the earlypart of the fifth century. Seeing that he is actually engaged inan attempt to disprove the existence of Sun Wu himself, we may besure that he would not have hesitated to assign the work to alater date had he not honestly believed the contrary. And it isprecisely on such a point that the judgment of an educatedChinaman will carry most weight. Other internal evidence is notfar to seek. Thus in XIII. ss. 1, there is an unmistakableallusion to the ancient system of land-tenure which had alreadypassed away by the time of Mencius, who was anxious to see itrevived in a modified form. [30] The only warfare Sun Tzu knowsis that carried on between the various feudal princes, in whicharmored chariots play a large part. Their use seems to haveentirely died out before the end of the Chou dynasty. He speaksas a man of Wu, a state which ceased to exist as early as 473B.C. On this I shall touch presently.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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12 But once refer the work to the 5th century or earlier, andthe chances of its being other than a bona fide production aresensibly diminished. The great age of forgeries did not comeuntil long after. That it should have been forged in the periodimmediately following 473 is particularly unlikely, for no one,as a rule, hastens to identify himself with a lost cause. As forYeh Shui-hsins theory, that the author was a literary recluse,that seems to me quite untenable. If one thing is more apparentthan another after reading the maxims of Sun Tzu, it is thattheir essence has been distilled from a large store of personalobservation and experience. They reflect the mind not only of aborn strategist, gifted with a rare faculty of generalization,but also of a practical soldier closely acquainted with themilitary conditions of his time. To say nothing of the fact thatthese sayings have been accepted and endorsed by all the greatestcaptains of Chinese history, they offer a combination offreshness and sincerity, acuteness and common sense, which quiteexcludes the idea that they were artificially concocted in thestudy. If we admit, then, that the 13 chapters were the genuineproduction of a military man living towards the end of the "CH`UNCH`IU" period, are we not bound, in spite of the silence of theTSO CHUAN, to accept Ssu-ma Ch`iens account in its entirety? Inview of his high repute as a sober historian, must we nothesitate to assume that the records he drew upon for Sun Wusbiography were false and untrustworthy? The answer, I fear, mustbe in the negative. There is still one grave, if not fatal,objection to the chronology involved in the story as told in theSHIH CHI, which, so far as I am aware, nobody has yet pointedout. There are two passages in Sun Tzu in which he alludes tocontemporary affairs. The first in in VI. ss. 21: -- Though according to my estimate the soldiers of Yueh exceed our own in number, that shall advantage them nothing in the matter of victory. I say then that victory can be achieved.The other is in XI. ss. 30: -- Asked if an army can be made to imitate the SHUAI-JAN, I should answer, Yes. For the men of Wu and the men of Yueh are enemies; yet if they are crossing a river in the same boat and are caught by a storm, they will come to each others assistance just as the left hand helps the right. These two paragraphs are extremely valuable as evidence ofthe date of composition. They assign the work to the period ofthe struggle between Wu and Yueh. So much has been observed byPi I-hsun. But what has hitherto escaped notice is that theyalso seriously impair the credibility of Ssu-ma Ch`iensnarrative. As we have seen above, the first positive date givenin connection with Sun Wu is 512 B.C. He is then spoken of as ageneral, acting as confidential adviser to Ho Lu, so that hisalleged introduction to that monarch had already taken place, andof course the 13 chapters must have been written earlier still.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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13But at that time, and for several years after, down to thecapture of Ying in 506, Ch`u and not Yueh, was the greathereditary enemy of Wu. The two states, Ch`u and Wu, had beenconstantly at war for over half a century, [31] whereas the firstwar between Wu and Yueh was waged only in 510, [32] and even thenwas no more than a short interlude sandwiched in the midst of thefierce struggle with Ch`u. Now Ch`u is not mentioned in the 13chapters at all. The natural inference is that they were writtenat a time when Yueh had become the prime antagonist of Wu, thatis, after Ch`u had suffered the great humiliation of 506. Atthis point, a table of dates may be found useful.B.C.514 Accession of Ho Lu.512 Ho Lu attacks Ch`u, but is dissuaded from entering Ying, the capital. SHI CHI mentions Sun Wu as general.511 Another attack on Ch`u.510 Wu makes a successful attack on Yueh. This is the first war between the two states.509 or 508 Ch`u invades Wu, but is signally defeated at Yu- chang.506 Ho Lu attacks Ch`u with the aid of T`ang and Ts`ai. Decisive battle of Po-chu, and capture of Ying. Last mention of Sun Wu in SHIH CHI.505 Yueh makes a raid on Wu in the absence of its army. Wu is beaten by Ch`in and evacuates Ying.504 Ho Lu sends Fu Ch`ai to attack Ch`u.497 Kou Chien becomes King of Yueh.496 Wu attacks Yueh, but is defeated by Kou Chien at Tsui-li. Ho Lu is killed.494 Fu Ch`ai defeats Kou Chien in the great battle of Fu-chaio, and enters the capital of Yueh.485 or 484 Kou Chien renders homage to Wu. Death of Wu Tzu-hsu.482 Kou Chien invades Wu in the absence of Fu Ch`ai.478 to 476 Further attacks by Yueh on Wu.475 Kou Chien lays siege to the capital of Wu.473 Final defeat and extinction of Wu. The sentence quoted above from VI. ss. 21 hardly strikes meas one that could have been written in the full flush of victory.It seems rather to imply that, for the moment at least, the tidehad turned against Wu, and that she was getting the worst of thestruggle. Hence we may conclude that our treatise was not inexistence in 505, before which date Yueh does not appear to havescored any notable success against Wu. Ho Lu died in 496, sothat if the book was written for him, it must have been duringthe period 505-496, when there was a lull in the hostilities, Wuhaving presumably exhausted by its supreme effort against Ch`u.On the other hand, if we choose to disregard the traditionconnecting Sun Wus name with Ho Lu, it might equally well haveseen the light between 496 and 494, or possibly in the periodWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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14482-473, when Yueh was once again becoming a very serious menace.[33] We may feel fairly certain that the author, whoever he mayhave been, was not a man of any great eminence in his own day.On this point the negative testimony of the TSO CHUAN faroutweighs any shred of authority still attaching to the SHIH CHI,if once its other facts are discredited. Sun Hsing-yen, however,makes a feeble attempt to explain the omission of his name fromthe great commentary. It was Wu Tzu-hsu, he says, who got allthe credit of Sun Wus exploits, because the latter (being analien) was not rewarded with an office in the State. How then did the Sun Tzu legend originate? It may be thatthe growing celebrity of the book imparted by degrees a kind offactitious renown to its author. It was felt to be only rightand proper that one so well versed in the science of war shouldhave solid achievements to his credit as well. Now the captureof Ying was undoubtedly the greatest feat of arms in Ho Lusreign; it made a deep and lasting impression on all thesurrounding states, and raised Wu to the short-lived zenith ofher power. Hence, what more natural, as time went on, than thatthe acknowledged master of strategy, Sun Wu, should be popularlyidentified with that campaign, at first perhaps only in the sensethat his brain conceived and planned it; afterwards, that it wasactually carried out by him in conjunction with Wu Yuan, [34] PoP`ei and Fu Kai? It is obvious that any attempt to reconstruct even theoutline of Sun Tzus life must be based almost wholly onconjecture. With this necessary proviso, I should say that heprobably entered the service of Wu about the time of Ho Lusaccession, and gathered experience, though only in the capacityof a subordinate officer, during the intense military activitywhich marked the first half of the princes reign. [35] If herose to be a general at all, he certainly was never on an equalfooting with the three above mentioned. He was doubtless presentat the investment and occupation of Ying, and witnessed Wussudden collapse in the following year. Yuehs attack at thiscritical juncture, when her rival was embarrassed on every side,seems to have convinced him that this upstart kingdom was thegreat enemy against whom every effort would henceforth have to bedirected. Sun Wu was thus a well-seasoned warrior when he satdown to write his famous book, which according to my reckoningmust have appeared towards the end, rather than the beginning ofHo Lus reign. The story of the women may possibly have grownout of some real incident occurring about the same time. As wehear no more of Sun Wu after this from any source, he is hardlylikely to have survived his patron or to have taken part in thedeath-struggle with Yueh, which began with the disaster at Tsui-li. If these inferences are approximately correct, there is acertain irony in the fate which decreed that Chinas mostillustrious man of peace should be contemporary with her greatestwriter on war.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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15The Text of Sun Tzu I have found it difficult to glean much about the history ofSun Tzus text. The quotations that occur in early authors go toshow that the "13 chapters" of which Ssu-ma Ch`ien speaks wereessentially the same as those now extant. We have his word forit that they were widely circulated in his day, and can onlyregret that he refrained from discussing them on that account.Sun Hsing-yen says in his preface: -- During the Ch`in and Han dynasties Sun Tzus ART OF WAR was in general use amongst military commanders, but they seem to have treated it as a work of mysterious import, and were unwilling to expound it for the benefit of posterity. Thus it came about that Wei Wu was the first to write a commentary on it. As we have already seen, there is no reasonable ground tosuppose that Ts`ao Kung tampered with the text. But the textitself is often so obscure, and the number of editions whichappeared from that time onward so great, especially during theT`ang and Sung dynasties, that it would be surprising if numerouscorruptions had not managed to creep in. Towards the middle ofthe Sung period, by which time all the chief commentaries on SunTzu were in existence, a certain Chi T`ien-pao published a workin 15 CHUAN entitled "Sun Tzu with the collected commentaries often writers." There was another text, with variant readings putforward by Chu Fu of Ta-hsing, which also had supporters amongthe scholars of that period; but in the Ming editions, Sun Hsing-yen tells us, these readings were for some reason or other nolonger put into circulation. Thus, until the end of the 18thcentury, the text in sole possession of the field was one derivedfrom Chi T`ien-paos edition, although no actual copy of thatimportant work was known to have survived. That, therefore, isthe text of Sun Tzu which appears in the War section of the greatImperial encyclopedia printed in 1726, the KU CHIN T`U SHU CHICH`ENG. Another copy at my disposal of what is practically thesame text, with slight variations, is that contained in the"Eleven philosophers of the Chou and Ch`in dynasties" [1758].And the Chinese printed in Capt. Calthrops first edition isevidently a similar version which has filtered through Japanesechannels. So things remained until Sun Hsing-yen [1752-1818], adistinguished antiquarian and classical scholar, who claimed tobe an actual descendant of Sun Wu, [36] accidentally discovered acopy of Chi T`ien-paos long-lost work, when on a visit to thelibrary of the Hua-yin temple. [37] Appended to it was the ISHUO of Cheng Yu-Hsien, mentioned in the T`UNG CHIH, and alsobelieved to have perished. This is what Sun Hsing-yen designatesas the "original edition (or text)" -- a rather misleading name,for it cannot by any means claim to set before us the text of SunTzu in its pristine purity. Chi T`ien-pao was a carelesscompiler, and appears to have been content to reproduce theWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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16somewhat debased version current in his day, without troubling tocollate it with the earliest editions then available.Fortunately, two versions of Sun Tzu, even older than the newlydiscovered work, were still extant, one buried in the T`UNG TIEN,Tu Yus great treatise on the Constitution, the other similarlyenshrined in the T`AI P`ING YU LAN encyclopedia. In both thecomplete text is to be found, though split up into fragments,intermixed with other matter, and scattered piecemeal over anumber of different sections. Considering that the YU LAN takesus back to the year 983, and the T`UNG TIEN about 200 yearsfurther still, to the middle of the T`ang dynasty, the value ofthese early transcripts of Sun Tzu can hardly be overestimated.Yet the idea of utilizing them does not seem to have occurred toanyone until Sun Hsing-yen, acting under Government instructions,undertook a thorough recension of the text. This is his ownaccount: -- Because of the numerous mistakes in the text of Sun Tzu which his editors had handed down, the Government ordered that the ancient edition [of Chi T`ien-pao] should be used, and that the text should be revised and corrected throughout. It happened that Wu Nien-hu, the Governor Pi Kua, and Hsi, a graduate of the second degree, had all devoted themselves to this study, probably surpassing me therein. Accordingly, I have had the whole work cut on blocks as a textbook for military men. The three individuals here referred to had evidently beenoccupied on the text of Sun Tzu prior to Sun Hsing-yenscommission, but we are left in doubt as to the work they reallyaccomplished. At any rate, the new edition, when ultimatelyproduced, appeared in the names of Sun Hsing-yen and only one co-editor Wu Jen-shi. They took the "original edition" as theirbasis, and by careful comparison with older versions, as well asthe extant commentaries and other sources of information such asthe I SHUO, succeeded in restoring a very large number ofdoubtful passages, and turned out, on the whole, what must beaccepted as the closes approximation we are ever likely to get toSun Tzus original work. This is what will hereafter bedenominated the "standard text." The copy which I have used belongs to a reissue dated 1877.it is in 6 PEN, forming part of a well-printed set of 23 earlyphilosophical works in 83 PEN. [38] It opens with a preface bySun Hsing-yen (largely quoted in this introduction), vindicatingthe traditional view of Sun Tzus life and performances, andsumming up in remarkably concise fashion the evidence in itsfavor. This is followed by Ts`ao Kungs preface to his edition,and the biography of Sun Tzu from the SHIH CHI, both translatedabove. Then come, firstly, Cheng Yu-hsiens I SHUO, [39] withauthors preface, and next, a short miscellany of historical andbibliographical information entitled SUN TZU HSU LU, compiled byPi I-hsun. As regards the body of the work, each separatesentence is followed by a note on the text, if required, and thenby the various commentaries appertaining to it, arranged inWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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17chronological order. These we shall now proceed to discussbriefly, one by one.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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18The Commentators Sun Tzu can boast an exceptionally long distinguished rollof commentators, which would do honor to any classic. Ou-yangHsiu remarks on this fact, though he wrote before the tale wascomplete, and rather ingeniously explains it by saying that theartifices of war, being inexhaustible, must therefore besusceptible of treatment in a great variety of ways. 1. TS`AO TS`AO or Ts`ao Kung, afterwards known as Wei Wu Ti[A.D. 155-220]. There is hardly any room for doubt that theearliest commentary on Sun Tzu actually came from the pen of thisextraordinary man, whose biography in the SAN KUO CHIH reads likea romance. One of the greatest military geniuses that the worldhas seen, and Napoleonic in the scale of his operations, he wasespecially famed for the marvelous rapidity of his marches, whichhas found expression in the line "Talk of Ts`ao Ts`ao, and Ts`aoTs`ao will appear." Ou-yang Hsiu says of him that he was a greatcaptain who "measured his strength against Tung Cho, Lu Pu andthe two Yuan, father and son, and vanquished them all; whereuponhe divided the Empire of Han with Wu and Shu, and made himselfking. It is recorded that whenever a council of war was held byWei on the eve of a far-reaching campaign, he had all hiscalculations ready; those generals who made use of them did notlose one battle in ten; those who ran counter to them in anyparticular saw their armies incontinently beaten and put toflight." Ts`ao Kungs notes on Sun Tzu, models of austerebrevity, are so thoroughly characteristic of the stern commanderknown to history, that it is hard indeed to conceive of them asthe work of a mere LITTERATEUR. Sometimes, indeed, owing toextreme compression, they are scarcely intelligible and stand noless in need of a commentary than the text itself. [40] 2. MENG SHIH. The commentary which has come down to usunder this name is comparatively meager, and nothing about theauthor is known. Even his personal name has not been recorded.Chi T`ien-paos edition places him after Chia Lin,and Ch`ao Kung-wu also assigns him to the T`ang dynasty, [41] but this is amistake. In Sun Hsing-yens preface, he appears as Meng Shih ofthe Liang dynasty [502-557]. Others would identify him with MengK`ang of the 3rd century. He is named in one work as the last ofthe "Five Commentators," the others being Wei Wu Ti, Tu Mu, Ch`enHao and Chia Lin. 3. LI CH`UAN of the 8th century was a well-known writer onmilitary tactics. One of his works has been in constant use downto the present day. The T`UNG CHIH mentions "Lives of famousgenerals from the Chou to the T`ang dynasty" as written by him.[42] According to Ch`ao Kung-wu and the T`IEN-I-KO catalogue, hefollowed a variant of the text of Sun Tzu which differsconsiderably from those now extant. His notes are mostly shortand to the point, and he frequently illustrates his remarks byWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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19anecdotes from Chinese history. 4. TU YU (died 812) did not publish a separate commentaryon Sun Tzu, his notes being taken from the T`UNG TIEN, theencyclopedic treatise on the Constitution which was his life-work. They are largely repetitions of Ts`ao Kung and Meng Shih,besides which it is believed that he drew on the ancientcommentaries of Wang Ling and others. Owing to the peculiararrangement of T`UNG TIEN, he has to explain each passage on itsmerits, apart from the context, and sometimes his own explanationdoes not agree with that of Ts`ao Kung, whom he always quotesfirst. Though not strictly to be reckoned as one of the "TenCommentators," he was added to their number by Chi T`ien-pao,being wrongly placed after his grandson Tu Mu. 5. TU MU (803-852) is perhaps the best known as a poet -- abright star even in the glorious galaxy of the T`ang period. Welearn from Ch`ao Kung-wu that although he had no practicalexperience of war, he was extremely fond of discussing thesubject, and was moreover well read in the military history ofthe CH`UN CH`IU and CHAN KUO eras. His notes, therefore, arewell worth attention. They are very copious, and replete withhistorical parallels. The gist of Sun Tzus work is thussummarized by him: "Practice benevolence and justice, but on theother hand make full use of artifice and measures of expediency."He further declared that all the military triumphs and disastersof the thousand years which had elapsed since Sun Tzus deathwould, upon examination, be found to uphold and corroborate, inevery particular, the maxims contained in his book. Tu Mussomewhat spiteful charge against Ts`ao Kung has already beenconsidered elsewhere. 6. CH`EN HAO appears to have been a contemporary of Tu Mu.Ch`ao Kung-wu says that he was impelled to write a new commentaryon Sun Tzu because Ts`ao Kungs on the one hand was too obscureand subtle, and that of Tu Mu on the other too long-winded anddiffuse. Ou-yang Hsiu, writing in the middle of the 11thcentury, calls Ts`ao Kung, Tu Mu and Ch`en Hao the three chiefcommentators on Sun Tzu, and observes that Ch`en Hao iscontinually attacking Tu Mus shortcomings. His commentary,though not lacking in merit, must rank below those of hispredecessors. 7. CHIA LIN is known to have lived under the T`ang dynasty,for his commentary on Sun Tzu is mentioned in the T`ang Shu andwas afterwards republished by Chi Hsieh of the same dynastytogether with those of Meng Shih and Tu Yu. It is of somewhatscanty texture, and in point of quality, too, perhaps the leastvaluable of the eleven. 8. MEI YAO-CH`EN (1002-1060), commonly known by his "style"as Mei Sheng-yu, was, like Tu Mu, a poet of distinction. Hiscommentary was published with a laudatory preface by the greatOu-yang Hsiu, from which we may cull the following: --Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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20 Later scholars have misread Sun Tzu, distorting his words and trying to make them square with their own one-sided views. Thus, though commentators have not been lacking, only a few have proved equal to the task. My friend Sheng-yu has not fallen into this mistake. In attempting to provide a critical commentary for Sun Tzus work, he does not lose sight of the fact that these sayings were intended for states engaged in internecine warfare; that the author is not concerned with the military conditions prevailing under the sovereigns of the three ancient dynasties, [43] nor with the nine punitive measures prescribed to the Minister of War. [44] Again, Sun Wu loved brevity of diction, but his meaning is always deep. Whether the subject be marching an army, or handling soldiers, or estimating the enemy, or controlling the forces of victory, it is always systematically treated; the sayings are bound together in strict logical sequence, though this has been obscured by commentators who have probably failed to grasp their meaning. In his own commentary, Mei Sheng-yu has brushed aside all the obstinate prejudices of these critics, and has tried to bring out the true meaning of Sun Tzu himself. In this way, the clouds of confusion have been dispersed and the sayings made clear. I am convinced that the present work deserves to be handed down side by side with the three great commentaries; and for a great deal that they find in the sayings, coming generations will have constant reason to thank my friend Sheng-yu. Making some allowance for the exuberance of friendship, I aminclined to endorse this favorable judgment, and would certainlyplace him above Ch`en Hao in order of merit. 9. WANG HSI, also of the Sung dynasty, is decidedlyoriginal in some of his interpretations, but much less judiciousthan Mei Yao-ch`en, and on the whole not a very trustworthyguide. He is fond of comparing his own commentary with that ofTs`ao Kung, but the comparison is not often flattering to him.We learn from Ch`ao Kung-wu that Wang Hsi revised the ancienttext of Sun Tzu, filling up lacunae and correcting mistakes. [45] 10. HO YEN-HSI of the Sung dynasty. The personal name ofthis commentator is given as above by Cheng Ch`iao in the TUNGCHIH, written about the middle of the twelfth century, but heappears simply as Ho Shih in the YU HAI, and Ma Tuan-lin quotesCh`ao Kung-wu as saying that his personal name is unknown. Thereseems to be no reason to doubt Cheng Ch`iaos statement,otherwise I should have been inclined to hazard a guess andidentify him with one Ho Ch`u-fei, the author of a short treatiseon war, who lived in the latter part of the 11th century. HoShihs commentary, in the words of the T`IEN-I-KO catalogue,"contains helpful additions" here and there, but is chieflyremarkable for the copious extracts taken, in adapted form, fromthe dynastic histories and other sources.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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21 11. CHANG YU. The list closes with a commentator of nogreat originality perhaps, but gifted with admirable powers oflucid exposition. His commentator is based on that of Ts`aoKung, whose terse sentences he contrives to expand and develop inmasterly fashion. Without Chang Yu, it is safe to say that muchof Ts`ao Kungs commentary would have remained cloaked in itspristine obscurity and therefore valueless. His work is notmentioned in the Sung history, the T`UNG K`AO, or the YU HAI, butit finds a niche in the T`UNG CHIH, which also names him as theauthor of the "Lives of Famous Generals." [46] It is rather remarkable that the last-named four should allhave flourished within so short a space of time. Ch`ao Kung-wuaccounts for it by saying: "During the early years of the Sungdynasty the Empire enjoyed a long spell of peace, and men ceasedto practice the art of war. but when [Chao] Yuan-haos rebellioncame [1038-42] and the frontier generals were defeated time aftertime, the Court made strenuous inquiry for men skilled in war,and military topics became the vogue amongst all the highofficials. Hence it is that the commentators of Sun Tzu in ourdynasty belong mainly to that period. [47] Besides these eleven commentators, there are several otherswhose work has not come down to us. The SUI SHU mentions four,namely Wang Ling (often quoted by Tu Yu as Wang Tzu); Chang Tzu-shang; Chia Hsu of Wei; [48] and Shen Yu of Wu. The T`ANG SHUadds Sun Hao, and the T`UNG CHIH Hsiao Chi, while the T`U SHUmentions a Ming commentator, Huang Jun-yu. It is possible thatsome of these may have been merely collectors and editors ofother commentaries, like Chi T`ien-pao and Chi Hsieh, mentionedabove.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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22Appreciations of Sun Tzu Sun Tzu has exercised a potent fascination over the minds ofsome of Chinas greatest men. Among the famous generals who areknown to have studied his pages with enthusiasm may be mentionedHan Hsin (d. 196 B.C.), [49] Feng I (d. 34 A.D.), [50] Lu Meng(d. 219), [51] and Yo Fei (1103-1141). [52] The opinion of Ts`aoKung, who disputes with Han Hsin the highest place in Chinesemilitary annals, has already been recorded. [53] Still moreremarkable, in one way, is the testimony of purely literary men,such as Su Hsun (the father of Su Tung-p`o), who wrote severalessays on military topics, all of which owe their chiefinspiration to Sun Tzu. The following short passage by him ispreserved in the YU HAI: [54] -- Sun Wus saying, that in war one cannot make certain of conquering, [55] is very different indeed from what other books tell us. [56] Wu Ch`i was a man of the same stamp as Sun Wu: they both wrote books on war, and they are linked together in popular speech as "Sun and Wu." But Wu Ch`is remarks on war are less weighty, his rules are rougher and more crudely stated, and there is not the same unity of plan as in Sun Tzus work, where the style is terse, but the meaning fully brought out. The following is an extract from the "Impartial Judgments inthe Garden of Literature" by Cheng Hou: -- Sun Tzus 13 chapters are not only the staple and base of all military mens training, but also compel the most careful attention of scholars and men of letters. His sayings are terse yet elegant, simple yet profound, perspicuous and eminently practical. Such works as the LUN YU, the I CHING and the great Commentary, [57] as well as the writings of Mencius, Hsun K`uang and Yang Chu, all fall below the level of Sun Tzu. Chu Hsi, commenting on this, fully admits the first part ofthe criticism, although he dislikes the audacious comparison withthe venerated classical works. Language of this sort, he says,"encourages a rulers bent towards unrelenting warfare andreckless militarism."Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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23Apologies for War Accustomed as we are to think of China as the greatestpeace-loving nation on earth, we are in some danger of forgettingthat her experience of war in all its phases has also been suchas no modern State can parallel. Her long military annalsstretch back to a point at which they are lost in the mists oftime. She had built the Great Wall and was maintaining a hugestanding army along her frontier centuries before the first Romanlegionary was seen on the Danube. What with the perpetualcollisions of the ancient feudal States, the grim conflicts withHuns, Turks and other invaders after the centralization ofgovernment, the terrific upheavals which accompanied theoverthrow of so many dynasties, besides the countless rebellionsand minor disturbances that have flamed up and flickered outagain one by one, it is hardly too much to say that the clash ofarms has never ceased to resound in one portion or another of theEmpire. No less remarkable is the succession of illustrious captainsto whom China can point with pride. As in all countries, thegreatest are fond of emerging at the most fateful crises of herhistory. Thus, Po Ch`i stands out conspicuous in the period whenCh`in was entering upon her final struggle with the remainingindependent states. The stormy years which followed the break-upof the Ch`in dynasty are illuminated by the transcendent geniusof Han Hsin. When the House of Han in turn is tottering to itsfall, the great and baleful figure of Ts`ao Ts`ao dominates thescene. And in the establishment of the T`ang dynasty,one of themightiest tasks achieved by man, the superhuman energy of LiShih-min (afterwards the Emperor T`ai Tsung) was seconded by thebrilliant strategy of Li Ching. None of these generals need fearcomparison with the greatest names in the military history ofEurope. In spite of all this, the great body of Chinese sentiment,from Lao Tzu downwards, and especially as reflected in thestandard literature of Confucianism, has been consistentlypacific and intensely opposed to militarism in any form. It issuch an uncommon thing to find any of the literati defendingwarfare on principle, that I have thought it worth while tocollect and translate a few passages in which the unorthodox viewis upheld. The following, by Ssu-ma Ch`ien, shows that for allhis ardent admiration of Confucius, he was yet no advocate ofpeace at any price: -- Military weapons are the means used by the Sage to punish violence and cruelty, to give peace to troublous times, to remove difficulties and dangers, and to succor those who are in peril. Every animal with blood in its veins and horns on its head will fight when it is attacked. How much more so will man, who carries in his breast the faculties of love and hatred, joy and anger! When he isWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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24 pleased, a feeling of affection springs up within him; when angry, his poisoned sting is brought into play. That is the natural law which governs his being.... What then shall be said of those scholars of our time, blind to all great issues, and without any appreciation of relative values, who can only bark out their stale formulas about "virtue" and "civilization," condemning the use of military weapons? They will surely bring our country to impotence and dishonor and the loss of her rightful heritage; or, at the very least, they will bring about invasion and rebellion, sacrifice of territory and general enfeeblement. Yet they obstinately refuse to modify the position they have taken up. The truth is that, just as in the family the teacher must not spare the rod, and punishments cannot be dispensed with in the State, so military chastisement can never be allowed to fall into abeyance in the Empire. All one can say is that this power will be exercised wisely by some, foolishly by others, and that among those who bear arms some will be loyal and others rebellious. [58] The next piece is taken from Tu Mus preface to hiscommentary on Sun Tzu: -- War may be defined as punishment, which is one of the functions of government. It was the profession of Chung Yu and Jan Ch`iu, both disciples of Confucius. Nowadays, the holding of trials and hearing of litigation, the imprisonment of offenders and their execution by flogging in the market- place, are all done by officials. But the wielding of huge armies, the throwing down of fortified cities, the hauling of women and children into captivity, and the beheading of traitors -- this is also work which is done by officials. The objects of the rack and of military weapons are essentially the same. There is no intrinsic difference between the punishment of flogging and cutting off heads in war. For the lesser infractions of law, which are easily dealt with, only a small amount of force need be employed: hence the use of military weapons and wholesale decapitation. In both cases, however, the end in view is to get rid of wicked people, and to give comfort and relief to the good.... Chi-sun asked Jan Yu, saying: "Have you, Sir, acquired your military aptitude by study, or is it innate?" Jan Yu replied: "It has been acquired by study." [59] "How can that be so," said Chi-sun, "seeing that you are a disciple of Confucius?" "It is a fact," replied Jan Yu; "I was taught by Confucius. It is fitting that the great Sage should exercise both civil and military functions, though to be sure my instruction in the art of fighting has not yet gone very far." Now, who the author was of this rigid distinction between the "civil" and the "military," and the limitation of each to a separate sphere of action, or in what year of which dynasty it was first introduced, is more than I can say. But, at any rate, it has come about that the members of theWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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25 governing class are quite afraid of enlarging on military topics, or do so only in a shamefaced manner. If any are bold enough to discuss the subject, they are at once set down as eccentric individuals of coarse and brutal propensities. This is an extraordinary instance in which, through sheer lack of reasoning, men unhappily lose sight of fundamental principles. When the Duke of Chou was minister under Ch`eng Wang, he regulated ceremonies and made music, and venerated the arts of scholarship and learning; yet when the barbarians of the River Huai revolted, [60] he sallied forth and chastised them. When Confucius held office under the Duke of Lu, and a meeting was convened at Chia-ku, [61] he said: "If pacific negotiations are in progress, warlike preparations should have been made beforehand." He rebuked and shamed the Marquis of Ch`i, who cowered under him and dared not proceed to violence. How can it be said that these two great Sages had no knowledge of military matters? We have seen that the great Chu Hsi held Sun Tzu in highesteem. He also appeals to the authority of the Classics: -- Our Master Confucius, answering Duke Ling of Wei, said: "I have never studied matters connected with armies and battalions." [62] Replying to K`ung Wen-tzu, he said: I have not been instructed about buff-coats and weapons." But if we turn to the meeting at Chia-ku, we find that he used armed force against the men of Lai, so that the marquis of Ch`i was overawed. Again, when the inhabitants of Pi revolted, the ordered his officers to attack them, whereupon they were defeated and fled in confusion. He once uttered the words: "If I fight, I conquer." [63] And Jan Yu also said: "The Sage exercises both civil and military functions." [64] Can it be a fact that Confucius never studied or received instruction in the art of war? We can only say that he did not specially choose matters connected with armies and fighting to be the subject of his teaching. Sun Hsing-yen, the editor of Sun Tzu, writes in similarstrain: -- Confucius said: "I am unversed in military matters." [65] He also said: "If I fight, I conquer." Confucius ordered ceremonies and regulated music. Now war constitutes one of the five classes of State ceremonial, [66] and must not be treated as an independent branch of study. Hence, the words "I am unversed in" must be taken to mean that there are things which even an inspired Teacher does not know. Those who have to lead an army and devise stratagems, must learn the art of war. But if one can command the services of a good general like Sun Tzu, who was employed by Wu Tzu-hsu, there is no need to learn it oneself. Hence the remark added by Confucius: "If I fight, I conquer." The men of the present day, however, willfully interpretWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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26 these words of Confucius in their narrowest sense, as though he meant that books on the art of war were not worth reading. With blind persistency, they adduce the example of Chao Kua, who pored over his fathers books to no purpose, [67] as a proof that all military theory is useless. Again, seeing that books on war have to do with such things as opportunism in designing plans, and the conversion of spies, they hold that the art is immoral and unworthy of a sage. These people ignore the fact that the studies of our scholars and the civil administration of our officials also require steady application and practice before efficiency is reached. The ancients were particularly chary of allowing mere novices to botch their work. [68] Weapons are baneful [69] and fighting perilous; and useless unless a general is in constant practice, he ought not to hazard other mens lives in battle. [70] Hence it is essential that Sun Tzus 13 chapters should be studied. Hsiang Liang used to instruct his nephew Chi [71] in the art of war. Chi got a rough idea of the art in its general bearings, but would not pursue his studies to their proper outcome, the consequence being that he was finally defeated and overthrown. He did not realize that the tricks and artifices of war are beyond verbal computation. Duke Hsiang of Sung and King Yen of Hsu were brought to destruction by their misplaced humanity. The treacherous and underhand nature of war necessitates the use of guile and stratagem suited to the occasion. There is a case on record of Confucius himself having violated an extorted oath, [72] and also of his having left the Sung State in disguise. [73] Can we then recklessly arraign Sun Tzu for disregarding truth and honesty?Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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27Bibliography The following are the oldest Chinese treatises on war, afterSun Tzu. The notes on each have been drawn principally from theSSU K`U CH`UAN SHU CHIEN MING MU LU, ch. 9, fol. 22 sqq. 1. WU TZU, in 1 CHUAN or 6 chapters. By Wu Ch`i (d. 381B.C.). A genuine work. See SHIH CHI, ch. 65. 2. SSU-MA FA, in 1 CHUAN or 5 chapters. Wrongly attributedto Ssu-ma Jang-chu of the 6th century B.C. Its date, however,must be early, as the customs of the three ancient dynasties areconstantly to be met within its pages. See SHIH CHI, ch. 64. The SSU K`U CH`UAN SHU (ch. 99, f. 1) remarks that theoldest three treatises on war, SUN TZU, WU TZU and SSU-MA FA,are, generally speaking, only concerned with things strictlymilitary -- the art of producing, collecting, training anddrilling troops, and the correct theory with regard to measuresof expediency, laying plans, transport of goods and the handlingof soldiers -- in strong contrast to later works, in which thescience of war is usually blended with metaphysics, divinationand magical arts in general. 3. LIU T`AO, in 6 CHUAN, or 60 chapters. Attributed to LuWang (or Lu Shang, also known as T`ai Kung) of the 12th centuryB.C. [74] But its style does not belong to the era of the ThreeDynasties. Lu Te-ming (550-625 A.D.) mentions the work, andenumerates the headings of the six sections so that the forgerycannot have been later than Sui dynasty. 4. WEI LIAO TZU, in 5 CHUAN. Attributed to Wei Liao (4thcent. B.C.), who studied under the famous Kuei-ku Tzu. The workappears to have been originally in 31 chapters, whereas the textwe possess contains only 24. Its matter is sound enough in themain, though the strategical devices differ considerably fromthose of the Warring States period. It is been furnished with acommentary by the well-known Sung philosopher Chang Tsai. 5. SAN LUEH, in 3 CHUAN. Attributed to Huang-shih Kung, alegendary personage who is said to have bestowed it on ChangLiang (d. 187 B.C.) in an interview on a bridge. But here again,the style is not that of works dating from the Ch`in or Hanperiod. The Han Emperor Kuang Wu [25-57 A.D.] apparently quotesfrom it in one of his proclamations; but the passage in questionmay have been inserted later on, in order to prove thegenuineness of the work. We shall not be far out if we refer itto the Northern Sung period [420-478 A.D.], or somewhat earlier. 6. LI WEI KUNG WEN TUI, in 3 sections. Written in the formof a dialogue between T`ai Tsung and his great general Li Ching,it is usually ascribed to the latter. Competent authoritiesconsider it a forgery, though the author was evidently wellWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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29Footnotes1. SHI CHI, ch. 65.2. He reigned from 514 to 496 B.C.3. SHI CHI, ch. 130.4. The appellation of Nang Wa.5. SHI CHI, ch. 31.6. SHI CHI, ch. 25.7. The appellation of Hu Yen, mentioned in ch. 39 under the year637.8. Wang-tzu Ch`eng-fu, ch. 32, year 607.9. The mistake is natural enough. Native critics refer to awork of the Han dynasty, which says: "Ten LI outside the WU gate[of the city of Wu, now Soochow in Kiangsu] there is a greatmound, raised to commemorate the entertainment of Sun Wu of Ch`i,who excelled in the art of war, by the King of Wu."10. "They attached strings to wood to make bows, and sharpenedwood to make arrows. The use of bows and arrows is to keep theEmpire in awe."11. The son and successor of Ho Lu. He was finally defeated andoverthrown by Kou chien, King of Yueh, in 473 B.C. See post.12. King Yen of Hsu, a fabulous being, of whom Sun Hsing-yensays in his preface: "His humanity brought him to destruction."13. The passage I have put in brackets is omitted in the T`USHU, and may be an interpolation. It was known, however to ChangShou-chieh of the T`ang dynasty, and appears in the T`AI P`ING YULAN.14. Ts`ao Kung seems to be thinking of the first part of chap.II, perhaps especially of ss. 8.15. See chap. XI.16. On the other hand, it is noteworthy that WU TZU, which isnot in 6 chapters, has 48 assigned to it in the HAN CHIH.Likewise, the CHUNG YUNG is credited with 49 chapters, though nowonly in one only. In the case of very short works, one istempted to think that P`IEN might simply mean "leaves."17. Yeh Shih of the Sung dynasty [1151-1223].Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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3018. He hardly deserves to be bracketed with assassins.19. See Chapter 7, ss. 27 and Chapter 11, ss. 28.20. See Chapter 11, ss. 28. Chuan Chu is the abbreviated formof his name.21. I.e. Po P`ei. See ante.22. The nucleus of this work is probably genuine, though largeadditions have been made by later hands. Kuan chung died in 645B.C.23. See infra, beginning of INTRODUCTION.24. I do not know what this work, unless it be the last chapterof another work. Why that chapter should be singled out,however, is not clear.25. About 480 B.C.26. That is, I suppose, the age of Wu Wang and Chou Kung.27. In the 3rd century B.C.28. Ssu-ma Jang-chu, whose family name was T`ien, lived in thelatter half of the 6th century B.C., and is also believed to havewritten a work on war. See SHIH CHI, ch. 64, and infra at thebeginning of the INTRODUCTION.29. See Legges Classics, vol. V, Prolegomena p. 27. Leggethinks that the TSO CHUAN must have been written in the 5thcentury, but not before 424 B.C.30. See MENCIUS III. 1. iii. 13-20.31. When Wu first appears in the CH`UN CH`IU in 584, it isalready at variance with its powerful neighbor. The CH`UN CH`IUfirst mentions Yueh in 537, the TSO CHUAN in 601.32. This is explicitly stated in the TSO CHUAN, XXXII, 2.33. There is this to be said for the later period, that the feudwould tend to grow more bitter after each encounter, and thusmore fully justify the language used in XI. ss. 30.34. With Wu Yuan himself the case is just the reverse: -- aspurious treatise on war has been fathered on him simply becausehe was a great general. Here we have an obvious inducement toforgery. Sun Wu, on the other hand, cannot have been widelyknown to fame in the 5th century.35. From TSO CHUAN: "From the date of King Chaos accessionWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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31[515] there was no year in which Ch`u was not attacked by Wu."36. Preface ad fin: "My family comes from Lo-an, and we arereally descended from Sun Tzu. I am ashamed to say that I onlyread my ancestors work from a literary point of view, withoutcomprehending the military technique. So long have we beenenjoying the blessings of peace!"37. Hoa-yin is about 14 miles from T`ung-kuan on the easternborder of Shensi. The temple in question is still visited bythose about the ascent of the Western Sacred Mountain. It ismentioned in a text as being "situated five LI east of thedistrict city of Hua-yin. The temple contains the Hua-shantablet inscribed by the T`ang Emperor Hsuan Tsung [713-755]."38. See my "Catalogue of Chinese Books" (Luzac & Co., 1908), no.40.39. This is a discussion of 29 difficult passages in Sun Tzu.40. Cf. Catalogue of the library of Fan family at Ningpo: "Hiscommentary is frequently obscure; it furnishes a clue, but doesnot fully develop the meaning."41. WEN HSIEN T`UNG K`AO, ch. 221.42. It is interesting to note that M. Pelliot has recentlydiscovered chapters 1, 4 and 5 of this lost work in the "Grottosof the Thousand Buddhas." See B.E.F.E.O., t. VIII, nos. 3-4, p.525.43. The Hsia, the Shang and the Chou. Although the last-namedwas nominally existent in Sun Tzus day, it retained hardly avestige of power, and the old military organization hadpractically gone by the board. I can suggest no otherexplanation of the passage.44. See CHOU LI, xxix. 6-10.45. T`UNG K`AO, ch. 221.46. This appears to be still extant. See Wylies "Notes," p. 91(new edition).47. T`UNG K`AO, loc. cit.48. A notable person in his day. His biography is given in theSAN KUO CHIH, ch. 10.49. See XI. ss. 58, note.50. HOU HAN SHU, ch. 17 ad init.51. SAN KUO CHIH, ch. 54.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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3252. SUNG SHIH, ch. 365 ad init.53. The few Europeans who have yet had an opportunity ofacquainting themselves with Sun Tzu are not behindhand in theirpraise. In this connection, I may perhaps be excused for quotingfrom a letter from Lord Roberts, to whom the sheets of thepresent work were submitted previous to publication: "Many ofSun Wus maxims are perfectly applicable to the present day, andno. 11 [in Chapter VIII] is one that the people of this countrywould do well to take to heart."54. Ch. 140.55. See IV. ss. 3.56. The allusion may be to Mencius VI. 2. ix. 2.57. The TSO CHUAN.58. SHIH CHI, ch. 25, fol. I.59. Cf. SHIH CHI, ch 47.60. See SHU CHING, preface ss. 55.61. See SHIH CHI, ch. 47.62. Lun Yu, XV. 1.63. I failed to trace this utterance.64. Supra.65. Supra.66. The other four being worship, mourning, entertainment ofguests, and festive rites. See SHU CHING, ii. 1. III. 8, andCHOU LI, IX. fol. 49.67. See XIII. ss. 11, note.68. This is a rather obscure allusion to the TSO CHUAN, whereTzu-ch`an says: "If you have a piece of beautiful brocade, youwill not employ a mere learner to make it up."69. Cf. TAO TE CHING, ch. 31.70. Sun Hsing-yen might have quoted Confucius again. See LUNYU, XIII. 29, 30.71. Better known as Hsiang Yu [233-202 B.C.].72. SHIH CHI, ch. 47.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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3373. SHIH CHI, ch. 38.74. See XIII. ss. 27, note. Further details on T`ai Kung willbe found in the SHIH CHI, ch. 32 ad init. Besides the traditionwhich makes him a former minister of Chou Hsin, two otheraccounts of him are there given, according to which he wouldappear to have been first raised from a humble private station byWen Wang.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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34The Art Of War (main)Way Of Ninja Notes: The notes in square parenthesis (ie. [ ] )are the commentators’ explanations/interpretation of themain text. It makes the Art of War easier to understand.I. LAYING PLANS [Ts`ao Kung, in defining the meaning of the Chinese for thetitle of this chapter, says it refers to the deliberations in thetemple selected by the general for his temporary use, or as weshould say, in his tent. See. ss. 26.] 1. Sun Tzu said: The art of war is of vital importance tothe State. 2. It is a matter of life and death, a road either tosafety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can onno account be neglected. 3. The art of war, then, is governed by five constantfactors, to be taken into account in ones deliberations, whenseeking to determine the conditions obtaining in the field. 4. These are: (1) The Moral Law; (2) Heaven; (3) Earth;(4) The Commander; (5) Method and discipline. [It appears from what follows that Sun Tzu means by "MoralLaw" a principle of harmony, not unlike the Tao of Lao Tzu in itsmoral aspect. One might be tempted to render it by "morale,"were it not considered as an attribute of the ruler in ss. 13.] 5, 6. The MORAL LAW causes the people to be in completeaccord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardlessof their lives, undismayed by any danger. [Tu Yu quotes Wang Tzu as saying: "Without constantpractice, the officers will be nervous and undecided whenmustering for battle; without constant practice, the general willbe wavering and irresolute when the crisis is at hand."] 7. HEAVEN signifies night and day, cold and heat, times andseasons. [The commentators, I think, make an unnecessary mystery oftwo words here. Meng Shih refers to "the hard and the soft,waxing and waning" of Heaven. Wang Hsi, however, may be right insaying that what is meant is "the general economy of Heaven,"including the five elements, the four seasons, wind and clouds,and other phenomena.] 8. EARTH comprises distances, great and small; danger andWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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35security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life anddeath. 9. The COMMANDER stands for the virtues of wisdom,sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. [The five cardinal virtues of the Chinese are (1) humanityor benevolence; (2) uprightness of mind; (3) self-respect, self-control, or "proper feeling;" (4) wisdom; (5) sincerity or goodfaith. Here "wisdom" and "sincerity" are put before "humanity orbenevolence," and the two military virtues of "courage" and"strictness" substituted for "uprightness of mind" and "self-respect, self-control, or proper feeling."] 10. By METHOD AND DISCIPLINE are to be understood themarshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, thegraduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roadsby which supplies may reach the army, and the control of militaryexpenditure. 11. These five heads should be familiar to every general:he who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not willfail. 12. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking todetermine the military conditions, let them be made the basis ofa comparison, in this wise: -- 13. (1) Which of the two sovereigns is imbued with theMoral law? [I.e., "is in harmony with his subjects." Cf. ss. 5.] (2) Which of the two generals has most ability? (3) With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven andEarth? [See ss. 7,8] (4) On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced? [Tu Mu alludes to the remarkable story of Ts`ao Ts`ao (A.D.155-220), who was such a strict disciplinarian that once, inaccordance with his own severe regulations against injury tostanding crops, he condemned himself to death for having allowedhim horse to shy into a field of corn! However, in lieu oflosing his head, he was persuaded to satisfy his sense of justiceby cutting off his hair. Ts`ao Ts`aos own comment on thepresent passage is characteristically curt: "when you lay down alaw, see that it is not disobeyed; if it is disobeyed theoffender must be put to death."] (5) Which army is stronger? [Morally as well as physically. As Mei Yao-ch`en puts it,freely rendered, "ESPIRIT DE CORPS and big battalions."] (6) On which side are officers and men more highly trained?Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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36 [Tu Yu quotes Wang Tzu as saying: "Without constantpractice, the officers will be nervous and undecided whenmustering for battle; without constant practice, the general willbe wavering and irresolute when the crisis is at hand."] (7) In which army is there the greater constancy both inreward and punishment? [On which side is there the most absolute certainty thatmerit will be properly rewarded and misdeeds summarily punished?] 14. By means of these seven considerations I can forecastvictory or defeat. 15. The general that hearkens to my counsel and acts uponit, will conquer: --let such a one be retained in command! Thegeneral that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, willsuffer defeat: --let such a one be dismissed! [The form of this paragraph reminds us that Sun Tzustreatise was composed expressly for the benefit of his patron HoLu, king of the Wu State.] 16. While heading the profit of my counsel, avail yourselfalso of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinaryrules. 17. According as circumstances are favorable, one shouldmodify ones plans. [Sun Tzu, as a practical soldier, will have none of the"bookish theoric." He cautions us here not to pin our faith toabstract principles; "for," as Chang Yu puts it, "while the mainlaws of strategy can be stated clearly enough for the benefit ofall and sundry, you must be guided by the actions of the enemy inattempting to secure a favorable position in actual warfare." Onthe eve of the battle of Waterloo, Lord Uxbridge, commanding thecavalry, went to the Duke of Wellington in order to learn whathis plans and calculations were for the morrow, because, as heexplained, he might suddenly find himself Commander-in-chief andwould be unable to frame new plans in a critical moment. TheDuke listened quietly and then said: "Who will attack the firsttomorrow -- I or Bonaparte?" "Bonaparte," replied Lord Uxbridge."Well," continued the Duke, "Bonaparte has not given me any ideaof his projects; and as my plans will depend upon his, how canyou expect me to tell you what mine are?" [1] ] 18. All warfare is based on deception. [The truth of this pithy and profound saying will beadmitted by every soldier. Col. Henderson tells us thatWellington, great in so many military qualities, was especiallydistinguished by "the extraordinary skill with which he concealedhis movements and deceived both friend and foe."]Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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37 19. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; whenusing our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, wemust make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, wemust make him believe we are near. 20. Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder,and crush him. [All commentators, except Chang Yu, say, "When he is indisorder, crush him." It is more natural to suppose that Sun Tzuis still illustrating the uses of deception in war.] 21. If he is secure at all points, be prepared for him. Ifhe is in superior strength, evade him. 22. If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek toirritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. [Wang Tzu, quoted by Tu Yu, says that the good tacticianplays with his adversary as a cat plays with a mouse, firstfeigning weakness and immobility, and then suddenly pouncing uponhim.] 23. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. [This is probably the meaning though Mei Yao-ch`en has thenote: "while we are taking our ease, wait for the enemy to tirehimself out." The YU LAN has "Lure him on and tire him out."]If his forces are united, separate them. [Less plausible is the interpretation favored by most of thecommentators: "If sovereign and subject are in accord, putdivision between them."] 24. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you arenot expected. 25. These military devices, leading to victory, must not bedivulged beforehand. 26. Now the general who wins a battle makes manycalculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. [Chang Yu tells us that in ancient times it was customaryfor a temple to be set apart for the use of a general who wasabout to take the field, in order that he might there elaboratehis plan of campaign.]The general who loses a battle makes but few calculationsbeforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and fewcalculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! Itis by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely towin or lose.[1] "Words on Wellington," by Sir. W. Fraser.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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38II. WAGING WAR [Ts`ao Kung has the note: "He who wishes to fight mustfirst count the cost," which prepares us for the discovery thatthe subject of the chapter is not what we might expect from thetitle, but is primarily a consideration of ways and means.] 1. Sun Tzu said: In the operations of war, where there arein the field a thousand swift chariots, as many heavy chariots,and a hundred thousand mail-clad soldiers, [The "swift chariots" were lightly built and, according toChang Yu, used for the attack; the "heavy chariots" were heavier,and designed for purposes of defense. Li Ch`uan, it is true,says that the latter were light, but this seems hardly probable.It is interesting to note the analogies between early Chinesewarfare and that of the Homeric Greeks. In each case, the war-chariot was the important factor, forming as it did the nucleusround which was grouped a certain number of foot-soldiers. Withregard to the numbers given here, we are informed that each swiftchariot was accompanied by 75 footmen, and each heavy chariot by25 footmen, so that the whole army would be divided up into athousand battalions, each consisting of two chariots and ahundred men.]with provisions enough to carry them a thousand LI, [2.78 modern LI go to a mile. The length may have variedslightly since Sun Tzus time.]the expenditure at home and at the front, including entertainmentof guests, small items such as glue and paint, and sums spent onchariots and armor, will reach the total of a thousand ounces ofsilver per day. Such is the cost of raising an army of 100,000men. 2. When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is longin coming, then mens weapons will grow dull and their ardor willbe damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust yourstrength. 3. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources ofthe State will not be equal to the strain. 4. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped,your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, other chieftainswill spring up to take advantage of your extremity. Then no man,however wise, will be able to avert the consequences that mustensue. 5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war,cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. [This concise and difficult sentence is not well explainedby any of the commentators. Ts`ao Kung, Li Ch`uan, Meng Shih, TuYu, Tu Mu and Mei Yao-ch`en have notes to the effect that aWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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39general, though naturally stupid, may nevertheless conquerthrough sheer force of rapidity. Ho Shih says: "Haste may bestupid, but at any rate it saves expenditure of energy andtreasure; protracted operations may be very clever, but theybring calamity in their train." Wang Hsi evades the difficultyby remarking: "Lengthy operations mean an army growing old,wealth being expended, an empty exchequer and distress among thepeople; true cleverness insures against the occurrence of suchcalamities." Chang Yu says: "So long as victory can beattained, stupid haste is preferable to clever dilatoriness."Now Sun Tzu says nothing whatever, except possibly byimplication, about ill-considered haste being better thaningenious but lengthy operations. What he does say is somethingmuch more guarded, namely that, while speed may sometimes beinjudicious, tardiness can never be anything but foolish -- ifonly because it means impoverishment to the nation. Inconsidering the point raised here by Sun Tzu, the classic exampleof Fabius Cunctator will inevitably occur to the mind. Thatgeneral deliberately measured the endurance of Rome against thatof Hannibalss isolated army, because it seemed to him that thelatter was more likely to suffer from a long campaign in astrange country. But it is quite a moot question whether histactics would have proved successful in the long run. Theirreversal it is true, led to Cannae; but this only establishes anegative presumption in their favor.] 6. There is no instance of a country having benefited fromprolonged warfare. 7. It is only one who is thoroughly acquainted with theevils of war that can thoroughly understand the profitable way ofcarrying it on. [That is, with rapidity. Only one who knows the disastrouseffects of a long war can realize the supreme importance ofrapidity in bringing it to a close. Only two commentators seemto favor this interpretation, but it fits well into the logic ofthe context, whereas the rendering, "He who does not know theevils of war cannot appreciate its benefits," is distinctlypointless.] 8. The skillful soldier does not raise a second levy,neither are his supply-wagons loaded more than twice. [Once war is declared, he will not waste precious time inwaiting for reinforcements, nor will he return his army back forfresh supplies, but crosses the enemys frontier without delay.This may seem an audacious policy to recommend, but with allgreat strategists, from Julius Caesar to Napoleon Bonaparte, thevalue of time -- that is, being a little ahead of your opponent --has counted for more than either numerical superiority or thenicest calculations with regard to commissariat.] 9. Bring war material with you from home, but forage on theenemy. Thus the army will have food enough for its needs.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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40 [The Chinese word translated here as "war material"literally means "things to be used", and is meant in the widestsense. It includes all the impedimenta of an army, apart fromprovisions.] 10. Poverty of the State exchequer causes an army to bemaintained by contributions from a distance. Contributing tomaintain an army at a distance causes the people to beimpoverished. [The beginning of this sentence does not balance properlywith the next, though obviously intended to do so. Thearrangement, moreover, is so awkward that I cannot helpsuspecting some corruption in the text. It never seems to occurto Chinese commentators that an emendation may be necessary forthe sense, and we get no help from them there. The Chinese wordsSun Tzu used to indicate the cause of the peoples impoverishmentclearly have reference to some system by which the husbandmensent their contributions of corn to the army direct. But whyshould it fall on them to maintain an army in this way, exceptbecause the State or Government is too poor to do so?] 11. On the other hand, the proximity of an army causesprices to go up; and high prices cause the peoples substance tobe drained away. [Wang Hsi says high prices occur before the army has leftits own territory. Ts`ao Kung understands it of an army that hasalready crossed the frontier.] 12. When their substance is drained away, the peasantrywill be afflicted by heavy exactions. 13, 14. With this loss of substance and exhaustion ofstrength, the homes of the people will be stripped bare, andthree-tenths of their income will be dissipated; [Tu Mu and Wang Hsi agree that the people are not mulctednot of 3/10, but of 7/10, of their income. But this is hardly tobe extracted from our text. Ho Shih has a characteristic tag:"The PEOPLE being regarded as the essential part of the State,and FOOD as the peoples heaven, is it not right that those inauthority should value and be careful of both?"]while government expenses for broken chariots, worn-out horses,breast-plates and helmets, bows and arrows, spears and shields,protective mantles, draught-oxen and heavy wagons, will amount tofour-tenths of its total revenue. 15. Hence a wise general makes a point of foraging on theenemy. One cartload of the enemys provisions is equivalent totwenty of ones own, and likewise a single PICUL of his provenderis equivalent to twenty from ones own store. [Because twenty cartloads will be consumed in the process ofWay Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja

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41transporting one cartload to the front. A PICUL is a unit ofmeasure equal to 133.3 pounds (65.5 kilograms).] 16. Now in order to kill the enemy, our men must be rousedto anger; that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy,they must have their rewards. [Tu Mu says: "Rewards are necessary in order to make thesoldiers see the advantage of beating the enemy; thus, when youcapture spoils from the enemy, they must be used as rewards, sothat all your men may have a keen desire to fight, each on hisown account."] 17. Therefore in chariot fighting, when ten or morechariots have been taken, those should be rewarded who took thefirst. Our own flags should be substituted for those of theenemy, and the chariots mingled and used in conjunction withours. The captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept. 18. This is called, using the conquered foe to augmentones own strength. 19. In war, then, let your great object be victory, notlengthy campaigns. [As Ho Shih remarks: "War is not a thing to be trifledwith." Sun Tzu here reiterates the main lesson which thischapter is intended to enforce."] 20. Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is thearbiter of the peoples fate, the man on whom it depends whetherthe nation shall be in peace or in peril.Way Of Ninja : Discover Your Way of Ninja